Mum’s vit D and kids’ bones
MATERNAL vitamin D levels in pregnancy do not affect children’s bone health, a large observational study has found.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
vitamin D
The following articles have the tag vitamin D
Kids’ bone health unaffected by maternal vitamin D levels
MATERNAL vitamin D levels in pregnancy do not affect children’s bone health, a large observational study has found.
Aspirin may lower melanoma risk
ASPIRIN may offer protection from melanoma in women, a study has found, adding to the body of evidence supporting the potential role of aspirin in cancer prevention.
Aspirin may reduce risk of melanoma in women
ASPIRIN may offer protection from melanoma in women, a study has found, adding to the body of evidence supporting the potential role of aspirin in cancer prevention.
Could vitamin D stem the tide of kids’ allergies?
FORTIFYING milk with vitamin D could be the next major step for Australia to prevent food allergies in children, an expert says.
Experts query latest advice on vitamin D supplementation
SPECIALISTS have queried the clinical utility of guidelines on vitamin D supplementation, suggesting aspects of a recent Australasian position paper are “misleading” and it is out of step with other expert opinion.
Experts query latest advice on vitamin D supplementation
SPECIALISTS have queried the clinical utility of guidelines on vitamin D supplementation, suggesting aspects of a recent Australasian position paper are “misleading” and it is out of step with other expert opinion.
Vitamin D deficiency more widespread
A REVIEW into vitamin D supplementation guidelines is being called for after Australia’s largest ever study into vitamin D deficiency found it affects more Australians and lasts longer than previously believed.
Stroke not prevented by vitamin C and E supplements
TAKING antioxidants such as vitamins C and E does not prevent stroke, but the potential benefits of vitamin D remain uncertain, according to an Australian expert.
Target levels of vitamin D need to allow for seasonal variation
DOCTORS should allow for a winter drop in vitamin D levels when assessing the status of patients in summer, experts say.
Could mushrooms help with vitamin D deficiency?
THE increasingly significant public health issue of vitamin D deficiency could be solved, in part, by eating more enriched mushrooms, a symposium has heard.
Vitamin D protective in metabolic syndrome
VITAMIN D levels predict both all-cause mortality and cardiovascular disease mortality in patients with metabolic syndrome, according to new research.
Low vitamin D leads to obesity
PEOPLE with low serum 25(OH)D levels have a greater risk of developing obesity, and in particular greater waist circumference, researchers warn.
Low vitamin D in pregnancy leads to language impairment in children
IN A finding that may spur moves toward routine screening of pregnant women for vitamin D status, Australian researchers have linked low serum 25(OH)-D levels to a two-fold higher risk of language impairment in offspring.
Sunlight may be key to allergies
CHILDREN may be less likely to suffer from eczema and food allergy when they are exposed to more sunlight, an Australian study suggests.
Lack of sunlight linked to food-induced anaphylaxis
VITAMIN D deficiency is an emerging risk factor for food-induced anaphylaxis, researchers suggest. In a review of the epidemiology of anaphylaxis, University of Melbourne researchers said Australian and US studies showed regions with less year-round sunlight had higher prevalence of food-induced anaphylaxis. EpiPen prescriptions for children under five years were six times higher in southern compared to northern Australia. Paediatric allergist Associate Professor Mimi Tang, from the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, said low vitamin D levels seemed to predispose individuals to all allergy problems, not just those related to food. “It’s been known for a ...
Vitamin D deficiency may have been involved in Mozart's death
THE cause of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s death in the winter of 1791 remains a mystery, but researchers now suspect vitamin D deficiency played a role. Hypotheses about Mozart’s death, aged 35, include poisoning, infection and cardiovascular disease. But an Austrian endocrinologist notes: “Mozart did much of his composing at night, so would have slept during much of the day”. At the latitude of Vienna, it is impossible to make vitamin D from sunlight for about six months of the year, he said. Mozart’s death should serve as a warning to people today, the endocrinologist added. ...
Sun exposure and vitamin D lower MS risk
SUN worshippers who have higher vitamin D levels have a lower risk of developing MS, Australian research confirms. Australian National University (ANU) researchers have conducted the first study to look at sun exposure and serum 25(OH)D status in people who experienced a first MS symptom, whereas previous studies have looked at people already diagnosed with the disease. They found differences in leisure-time sun exposure, vitamin D status and skin type together accounted for a 32% increase in the incidence of having a first demyelinating event. The positive effect remained after adjusting for potential cofounders and didn’t ...
Supplements may curb diabetes
VITAMIN C and calcium supplements may offer some protection against the onset of diabetes, according to a large prospective study. US researchers asked more than 200,000 participants about their supplemental vitamin and mineral use, and reviewed diabetes prevalence among the cohort four years later. Those who used vitamin C supplements had a 9% lower risk of developing diabetes compared to non-users, the researchers found at follow-up, while those who used calcium supplements had a 15% lower risk. The data, which was adjusted for confounders, including general health status, also showed that using multivitamins was not associated ...
Cochrane review
Vitamin D supplements fail to improve bone density REVIEWERS have found vitamin D supplements fail to improve bone density in healthy children with adequate vitamin D levels. The review of six randomised trials, including 1000 children and adolescents, found healthy children randomised to vitamin D supplementation for at least three months had no statistically significant improvement in bone density at the hip, lumbar spine, forearm or of the whole body compared with those given placebo. However, the authors, from the University of Tasmania, said the findings suggested children with vitamin D deficiency might derive a “clinically ...
Vitamin D link to death in type 2 diabetes patients
EVIDENCE is growing to suggest that severe vitamin D deficiency significantly increases the risk of death in patients with type 2 diabetes. Fifteen-year follow-up of a group of Danish patients found that those with plasma vitamin D levels below 13.9 nmol/L – the lowest 10% percentile – faced double the risk of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. The increased risk persisted even after adjustment for diabetes duration, HbA1c, kidney function and cardiovascular risk factors. Researchers followed up 289 hospital outpatients – 196 of whom died over the study period. Although causality remains unproven, they said the ...
Diabetes onset: nature vs nurture
Catherine Hanrahan looks at some of the possible environmental factors associated with diabetes. Could they hold the key to prevention?
Vitamin D deficiency linked to risk of pelvic floor disorders
VITAMIN D deficiency may put women at higher risk of incontinence and pelvic floor disorders, a study suggests.Data from a US national health and nutrition survey showed that women with below normal levels of vitamin D were more likely to have incontinence and one or more pelvic floor disorders irrespective of age. Among women aged 50-plus years, vitamin D levels of 30 ng/mL or higher appeared to be protective against urinary incontinence. The researchers showed that for each 5 ng/mL increase in vitamin D levels, there was a 6% drop in the risk of pelvic floor disorders ...
Sunscreens and the effect on vitamin D levels
THERAPEUTIC Guidelines: Dermatology version 3 includes a section about sunscreens and vitamin D. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation causes sunburn, photoageing, cataracts, immunosuppression and skin cancer. It can activate latent viruses and trigger photosensitivity-related dermatoses. Therefore minimisation of UV radiation exposure throughout life has many benefits. The active ingredients in sunscreens work by either absorbing or reflecting UV radiation. Absorbent sunscreen chemicals act mainly in the UV range, whereas reflectants (also known as physical blockers) provide a barrier across the whole of the solar spectrum. There is continuing debate about regular use of sunscreens ...
Sunscreens and the effect on vitamin D levels
THERAPEUTIC Guidelines: Dermatolog y version 3 includes a section about sunscreens and vitamin D. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation causes sunburn, photoageing, cataracts, immunosuppression and skin cancer. It can activate latent viruses and trigger photosensitivity-related dermatoses. Therefore minimisation of UV radiation exposure throughout life has many benefits. The active ingredients in sunscreens work by either absorbing or reflecting UV radiation. Absorbent sunscreen chemicals act mainly in the UV range, whereas reflectants (also known as physical blockers) provide a barrier across the whole of the solar spectrum. There is continuing debate about regular use of sunscreens ...
High vit D reduces colon cancer risk
THE risk of colorectal cancer appears to be reduced in those with higher circulating vitamin D levels, according to European researchers. In the case-control study of more than 520,000 participants, those with the highest quintile of serum vitamin D levels had a 40% lower risk of colorectal cancer compared with those in the lowest quintile. Even participants with mid-level serum vitamin D concentrations (50 nmol/L to 75 nmol/L) had a significantly reduced risk, the authors found. Previous studies had produced conflicting evidence on the link between vitamin D levels and risk of colorectal cancer, they ...
Studies back increased daily vitamin D intake
CURRENT recommendations for daily vitamin D intake are too low to improve physical wellbeing, and vitamin D deficiency is having adverse effects on cardiovascular health, findings from two studies suggest. US researchers found vitamin D levels below 80 nmol/L in premenopausal women tripled the risk of high systolic blood pressure in later life, and, in a separate study, researchers found patients with levels of 25 nmol/L had double the risk of cardiovascular (CVD) mortality. Both research groups said the current recommended dose of 400-800 IU per day was inadequate. Dr Peter Rohl, senior staff specialist in ...
Vitamin D for over-65s dramatically reduces falls
A MINIMUM of 700 IU of daily vitamin D supplementation can reduce the risk of falls by 20% in patients aged 65 years or older, with the effect seen within months of starting treatment, a meta-analysis of eight randomised trials shows. The strength of the findings has prompted researchers to recommend vitamin D supplementation to achieve a goal 25(OH)D concentration of 60-95 nmol/L in patients aged 65 or older. “We found a 38% reduction in the risk of falling for the high-dose range of vitamin D with treatment for 2-5 months, and a sustained 17% fall reduction ...
Is fracture prevention failing?
Improved fracture prevention is needed to protect more vulnerable patients from the morbidity and mortality associated with osteoporosis. BACKGROUND ACCORDING to the World Health Organization (WHO), osteoporosis is second only to cardiovascular disease as a leading healthcare problem, affecting 2.2 million Australians. The numbers are expected to increase to three million by 2021, mainly due to increasing longevity. 1 This places a considerable burden on our healthcare system, with an estimated $1.9 billion in direct costs and $7.4 billion in indirect costs spent on osteoporosis annually. 2 About 30%-50% of women ...
Vitamin D may prevent knee wear and tear
RESEARCHERS have discovered another apparent benefit of vitamin D supplementation in the elderly, finding higher vitamin D levels may prevent or retard knee cartilage loss. While vitamin D insufficiency is well recognised in the pathogenesis of osteoporosis, its role in osteoarthritis is less well understood. Researchers from the University of Tasmania have now found a positive association between winter sunlight exposure, serum vitamin D levels and cartilage volume. They found, among 880 adults aged 51-79, that those with serum vitamin D levels less than 50 nmol/l showed increased medial tibiofemoral joint space narrowing. The associations were ...
Combined therapy more effective for chronic plaque psoriasis
COMBINED vitamin D and corticosteroid products are more effective than vitamin D or steroids alone for treating chronic plaque psoriasis. Vitamin D alone was as effective as steroids alone, although steroids appeared to work better for scalp psoriasis, a Cochrane review found. Potent corticosteroids were less likely than vitamin D to cause local adverse events such as skin irritation. Dithranol and tazarotene had similar efficacy to vitamin D, and vitamin D alone was better than coal tar. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews , 2009, Issue 2. Art No: CD005028. ...
12 myths of skincare
Dispelling some of the most common myths patients hold about their skin. Acne is caused by eating chocolate There is no conclusive evidence to suggest that diet has any major impact on acne. There have been a number of small studies demonstrating that high-GI foods may contribute to worsening of acne in a small group of younger patients. However, in general, dietary intake has no major impact on the severity of acne. Systemic isotretinoin is a major cause of adolescent depression Most studies do not demonstrate a link between depression and ...
Confusion over safe sun time
MANY Australians believe potentially harmful levels of sun exposure are required to prevent vitamin D deficiency, according to new data. Research presented at the Clinical Oncological Society of Australia 2008 Annual Scientific Meeting, held in Sydney last week, found almost a third of respondents believed fair-skinned adults required at least 30 minutes of sun per day to maintain vitamin D levels. Nearly 32% also believed children needed a similar amount of sun exposure. In contrast, new melanoma guidelines also released at the conference recommended 10 minutes of UV exposure per day to avoid vitamin D deficiency ...
Internet posts positive tanning messages
CLINICIANS need to be aware of the volume of biased health information accessed online, especially by younger people, experts have warned. A US study of 74 YouTube online videos referring to tanning beds and salons found the majority were positive about their use. Many of these extolled benefits to personal appearance, while two mentioned vitamin D as a benefit of tanning. Twenty-five of the videos were advertisements for specific salons, and another 10 were advertising apartments or condominiums with an onsite tanning bed. There was only one American Academy of Dermatology-sponsored video that specifically mentioned adverse ...
Anti-sun protection media coverage rising
AUSTRALIAN skin cancer experts are raising concerns over the growth in news coverage featuring anti-sun protection spokespeople commenting on controversial issues such as vitamin D intake. Research conducted by The Cancer Council Victoria involving an analysis of 547 news reports on sun protection issues published in The Age and The Herald Sun from 1993 to 2006 has revealed the emerging trend. It showed that, although the majority of articles featured a pro-sun protection commentator, 12% featured an anti-sun protection spokesperson who supported solarium use or sun exposure to obtain sufficient vitamin D levels. ...
Vitamin D may have a mental health role
PATIENTS with depression have significantly lower serum vitamin D levels and may benefit from screening and vitamin D supplementation, Australian experts say. Researchers compared vitamin D (25-OHD) levels among 53 inpatients from a private psychiatric hospital with 691 community-based controls. Diagnoses among the inpatient group included bipolar disorder, depression, and personality and substance use disorders. Almost 60% of patients were found to be deficient in vitamin D (≤50 nmol/L) compared with only 30% of controls. Moderate vitamin D deficiency (≤25 nmol/L) was detected among 11% of inpatients compared with only 7.2% of controls. The ...
Vitamin D and prostate cancer
RECENTLY in my book with Professor Kerryn Phelps, Prostate Cancer for the General Practitioner , I gave a list of general preventive measures for prostate cancer that highlighted the tenuous evidence in favour of these factors. One of the factors I mentioned was vitamin D 3 , and I would like to draw the attention of the readers to an error in the dosage written in the preventive section as < or = 10,000 IU. It should read < or = 1000 IU. By way of information, I take this opportunity to update the readers about ...
World report – 1 August
• HOSPITAL SCORECARD POSTED IN UK THE UK National Health Service is to publish survival rates for four common surgical procedures for each hospital trust with the intention of assisting patients with treatment decisions. The NHS Choices website has begun posting survival rates for elective and emergency abdominal aortic aneurysm repairs, hip and knee surgery. The data will allow patients to compare different hospitals for a range of measures including survival, average hospital stay and rates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Other measures include quality of service, hospital cleanliness and patient ...
Kaposi's sarcoma
An HIV patient presents with characteristic skin lesions. A 51-year-old Caucasian man with HIV was admitted to hospital with Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia. His recent CD4 count was 0.13x10 9 . He complained of some purple lesions on his chest and abdomen, which had been present for a few years and recently increased in size. He had developed a new lesion in his mouth causing soreness, and one on his toe had recently ulcerated. On examination, he had several non-blanching purple papules on the neck, chest (Figure 1) and abdomen. On the plantar surface of ...